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Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Department will continue to keep abreast of research developments both here and abroad. Together with the Home Office, we are hoping to fund, at an estimated cost of £300, 000, a three-year research project to study the prevalence and patterns of use of cocaine and crack.
Blood
Mr. Terry Fields : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantities of voluntarily donated blood have been sold to private medical organisations ; what quantities have been sold abroad ; what are the amounts of profit accrued from these sales over the last 12 months ; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Since 1 April 1984 charges have been made to the private sector to recover the costs to the NHS of collection, processing, handling and transport of blood. No charge is made for the blood itself, and no profit is made on any blood or blood components supplied. The last 12-month period for which complete records are currently held is the 12 months ending 31 December 1988. During that year 75,961 units of blood were issued to non-NHS hospitals. No NHS blood was
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sent abroad during 1988. Blood collected by the NHS would be sent outside the United Kingdom only on humanitarian grounds, in cases of emergency. In such cases, again, no charge would be made for the blood itself.Ambulance Staff
Mr. Shersby : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current pay differential between ambulance staff who are non-emergency workers and those classified as emergency workers.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : Under current pay rates, which have been effective since 1 April 1988, the comparison between the basic rate for non -emergency basic ambulance man/woman grade and the emergency staff grades of qualified and leading ambulance man/woman is as follows :
|£ per annum
-----------------------------------------------------
Ambulanceman/woman |7,340
Qualified ambulanceman/woman |10,093
Leading ambulanceman/woman |10,888
Staff in the London ambulance service receive an additional payment of £981 per annum.
Under the new rates offered by the management side on 5 December and effective from 1 April 1989 the comparison is as follows :
|Outside |London
|London |ambulance
|service
|£ per annum|£ per annum
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ambulanceman/woman |8,001 |9,232
Qualified ambulanceman/woman |11,001 |12,384
Leading ambulanceman/woman |11,868 |13,305
In addition, emergency staff groups required to use paramedical skills gained from extended training to NHS training authority standard will receive an additional £500 per annum. The management side has also undertaken to agree with the trade union side, by 28 February 1990, a national framework for the recognition of staff specially trained, either locally to standards other than of the NHS training authority, or partially to those standards, with payments backdated to 1 April 1989.
Residential Nursing Care
Ms. Harman : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those companies, voluntary and other organisations, other than health authorities and local authorities, which are involved in providing residential nursing care.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : This information is not collected centrally.
North Tynemouth District Health Authority
Mr. Trotter : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many additional staff will be provided in the North Tynemouth district health authority to support the new consultant post in trauma and orthopaedics which he recently approved.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley [holding answer 4 December 1989] : The level of staffing in district health authorities is
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a matter for the DHA concerned. I understand that additional staff are being provided to support the new consultant post. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of North Tyneside health authority for details.FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Schengen Agreement
86. Mr. Morley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has considered the implications of the Schengen agreement and supplementary agreements ; and if he will make a statement.
87. Ms. Quin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has considered the implications of the Schengen agreement and supplementary agreements ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maude : The Schengen agreement is an arrangement between France and the Federal Republic of Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg to abolish land frontier controls between their countries. Their work is separate from the discussions on free movement of people which are taking place among all member states of the European Community.
We will naturally be interested in the experience of the Schengen Partners in reducing frontier controls.
Rajiv Ghandi
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has written to Mr. Rajiv Ghandi since the general election in India.
Mr. Sainsbury : No, but my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister sent a personal message to Mr. Ghandhi on his departure from office.
India
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's current relations with India.
Mr. Sainsbury : We have excellent relations with India. We look forward to continuing our close and friendly links with the new Indian Government.
Mr. Vaz : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to visit India.
Mr. Sainsbury : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs looks forward to visiting India, although he has no current plans to do so.
NATO (Institutional Links)
Dr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what institutional links exist between (a) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the United Nations, (b) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the North Atlantic Assembly and (c) the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Commission.
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Mr. Maude : There are no institutional links between NATO and the United Nations or between NATO and the EC. NATO maintains a close working relationship with the North Atlantic Assembly.
Korea
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he received from President Roh of Korea during his recent visit when he drew attention to the concern felt by many people in this country about the way in which dogs and cats are reared and slaughtered for food in Korea.
Mr. Sainsbury : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs did not raise this matter with President Roh.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 30 November, at column 419.
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he received from the Korean Foreign Minister when he drew his attention to the revulsion felt by many people in this country at the treatment of animals in Korea.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Korean Foreign Minister indicated that he was well aware of the strength of feeling in Britain on this issue. The Korean Government have assured us that they are making strenuous efforts to prevent cruelty to animals.
Visa Applications
Mr. Mullin : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made regarding the visa applications by the Vietnamese film director, Mr. Tran Van Thuy, and his cameraman, Mr. Do Khanh Toan, who wish to visit the United Kingdom between 21 and 27 December.
Mr. Sainsbury : These applications are under active consideration and a decision will be made very shortly.
Strasbourg Summit
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to raise at the European summit meeting in Strasbourg with his French counterpart (a) the prospects of France joining the 1968 nuclear
non-proliferation treaty, (b) the policy of the French Government regarding a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty and (c) the possibility of a joint Anglo-French officials working party to bilaterally discuss the non- proliferation treaty and test ban treaty.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs does not intend to raise these matters at the European Council meeting in Strasbourg.
Mr. Wigley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to raise the issue of the fourth review conference of the non-proliferation treaty with his counterparts representing member states during the Strasbourg summit.
Mr. Maude : My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs does not intend to raise this subject at the European Council meeting in Strasbourg.
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Semtex
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if further inquiries are to be made with the Czechoslovakian authorities arising from the more recent political development over its manufacture and exporting of Semtex.
Mr. Maude : We have been discussing this matter with the Czechoslovak Government for over a year. They have stated publicly that all exports of Semtex ceased in 1982.
Recent political developments in Czechoslavakia have not affected our exchanges which have resulted in a joint initiative for an international convention on the marking for detection of plastic and sheet explosives. This is under consideration in the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
El Salvador
Mr. Winnick : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the ambassador of El Salvador has been called to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office over the murder of six priests and others in El Salvador ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 16 November, at column 416.
Cambodia
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters and telephone calls he has received on the subject of Cambodia in the last month ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : The Department has received over 12,000 letters and approximately 50 telephone inquiries on Cambodia in the last month.
Overseas Aid
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will set a timetable to honour the commitment to meet the United Nations target of providing overseas aid at the level of 0.7 per cent. of gross national product ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Sainsbury : I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Monklands, West (Mr. Clarke) on 6 June, at column 129.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Veterinary Surgeons
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in the Official Report for each of the last 10 years the number of veterinary surgeons permanently employed by his Department ; and what is his estimate of the number of veterinary surgeons who will be required over each of the next four years.
Mr. Maclean : The number of veterinary surgeons permanently employed in the state veterinary service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for each of the last 10 years is as follows :
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Year |Number --------------------- 1980 |580.5 1981 |563.5 1982 |557.0 1983 |549.0 1984 |539.5 1985 |527.5 1986 |506.5 1987 |464.5 1988 |444.5 1989 |422.0
We foresee a need for an increase in the number of veterinary surgeons in the state veterinary service over the next four years, particularly for food safety work including meat hygiene. In April this year, Dr. Ewan Page was appointed to chair a committee to provide advice on this. Its report is awaited.
Suckler Cow Premia
Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what basis areas are selected for payment of suckler cow premia under the special provision of herd reduction due to natural circumstances.
Mr. Curry : In deciding which areas should be designated as being affected by drought account was taken of meteorological data on a county basis concerning rainfall levels and soil moisture deficits likely to result in serious depletion of natural fodder supplies.
Cyromazine
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has authorised the use of any products containing cyromazine ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Maclean : Two products have been granted licences under the Medicines Act 1968 for use in preventing blow fly strike on sheep.
Salmonella
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provision exists for the testing of flocks of broiler chicken for salmonella.
Mr. Maclean : There is no statutory requirement for testing broiler chickens for salmonella. However, the requirements for testing and for the compulsory slaughter of infected flocks apply to broiler breeding flocks in order to minimise the risk of producing infected progeny.
Bovine Offal
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has given concerning the disposal of bovine offal currently banned for human consumption.
Mr. Maclean : The offal must be dealt with in accordance with the Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989.
Bovine Somatotropin
Mr. Matthew Taylor : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to the answer of 1 December to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr.
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Clark), Official Report, column 480, which three bovine somatotropin products have been authorised to undergo field trials ; and what is the location of the authorised field trials.Mr. Maclean : The three recombinant BST products authorised for trials are those which have satisfied the safety and other requirements of the Medicines Act 1968. Further details, including the location of the trials, are notified by the companies concerned to my Department in confidence under the terms of section 118 of the Act.
Poultry (Slaughter)
Mr. Ralph Howell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many (a) flocks and (b) birds, have been slaughtered as a result of Zoonoses Orders ; and what is the estimated number and value of loss of eggs which will result.
Mr. Maclean : Up to 1 December, 1,005,290 birds from 83 flocks infected with salmonella have been compulsorily slaughtered. It is not possible to give the details of the estimated number and value of loss of eggs which will result except at disproportionate cost.
Milk Quota
Mr. Colvin : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the criteria upon which he is allocating the 1 per cent. increase in Britain's milk quota.
Mr. Curry : I am currently considering the available options together with the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Anthrax Vaccine
Mr. Hood : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current availability of an anthrax vaccine for cows.
Mr. Maclean : There is no commercial source of supply of anthrax vaccine in the United Kingdom at present, so in the event of an outbreak my Department has plans to make a vaccine available on an emergency basis.
Prosecutions
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many prosecutions his Department initiated in each of the last three years in respect of offences under (a) the Protection of Animals Act 1911, (b) the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, and (c) the Intensive Units Regulations ; and what was the date of the last conviction obtained by his Department under each of these provisions.
Mr. Maclean : The prosecutions initiated were :
|<1>1987 |<2>1988-89|<3>1989
-------------------------------------------------------
1911 Act |6 |8 |3
1968 Act |3 |3 |0
<1> 1 January to 31 December.
<2> 1 January 1988 to 31 March 1989.
<3> 1 April 1989 to present.
No prosecutions under the Welfare of Livestock (Intensive Units) Regulations 1978 have been instigated by my Department in any of the last three years.
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The last convictions obtained were on 13 November 1989 under the 1911 Act, and on 26 May 1989 under the 1968 Act.Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
Mr. Ron Davies : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he gives the veterinary service concerning the use of caesarian sections on cows suspected of bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
Mr. Maclean : Caesarian sections are not advised for preparturient cows. However, if a cow is unable to calve normally a caesarian section may be carried out at the discretion of the veterinary surgeon. Such animals must be isolated in approved accommodation whilst calving and for 72 hours afterwards. The placenta, uterine discharges and bedding must be burned or buried.
Farm Pollution Control
Dr. Cunningham : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department has contributed in grant aid to farm pollution control under the Mersey basin campaign for every year since 1984.
Mr. Curry : This information is not available in the form requested. In the Crewe and Preston divisional offices, which cover the area including the Mersey basin and which spearheaded my Department's contribution to this important campaign, total expenditure on waste facilities under the agriculture improvement scheme, which ran from 1985 to 1988, was as follows :
1986-7£367,819
1987-8£238,317
1988-9 £97,362
In addition, prior notifications by farmers of intention to claim grant waste facilities under the farm and conservation grant scheme, which replaced the agriculture improvement scheme in February, were until the end of October :
Crewe
506 notifications covering grant expenditure of £4,002,139. Preston
182 notifications covering grant expenditure of £209,164. My Department has also supported this campaign through intensive publicity and advice to farmers including visits to farms identified by the water authority and, more recently, the National Rivers Authority.
Multi-annual Guidance Programme
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what date Her Majesty's Government became a signatory to the multi -annual guidance programme ; and who were the signatories on behalf of Her Majesty's Government.
Mr. Curry : The United Kingdom multi-annual guidance programme was approved by the Commission's Standing Committee for the Fishing Industry in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 47 of Regulation 4028/86 on 11 December 1987.
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what dates the multi-annual guidance programme was debated in the House prior to Her Majesty's Government signing the agreement.
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Mr. Curry : The entire MAGP was not debated but one of its main components concerning vessel grants was discussed in the House on 26 October 1987.Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations his Department held with representatives of the fishing industry prior to agreement to the multi-annual guidance programme as part of the common fisheries policy.
Mr. Curry : Full consultations were held with fishing industry representatives before the adoption of Council Regulation 4028/86, of which the multi-annual guidance programme forms a part.
Fishing (Hague Preference)
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date and in which countries the 1978 Hague preference has been implemented by the European Community on behalf of coastal areas dependent on fishing.
Mr. Curry : The 1976 Hague preference has been implemented by the European Community once, in respect of the United Kingdom North sea haddock quota in 1989.
EC Fisheries Inspectorate
Mrs. Margaret Ewing : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals his Department intends to make to increase appointments to, and the responsibilities of, the Community fisheries inspectorate.
Mr. Curry : Under the common fisheries policy, enforcement is a matter for individual member states. The United Kingdom has, however, always been in the forefront in supporting the need for an effective Community inspectorate to ensure that member states meet their responsibilities. In recent years, the powers of the inspectorate have been strengthened, and it has become a real force throughout the Community. The inspectorate's complement has also been increased and currently stands at 18.
Captive Birds
Mr. Dalyell : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has delayed publishing the report on computer study of mortality in quarantine of captive birds in 1988.
Mr. Maclean : The figures will be made available when the implications of the mortality study have been assessed. I hope to make an announcement shortly.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Parole
13. Dr. Kim Howells : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the staff complement of the parole unit now ; and what it was 12 months ago.
Mr. Mellor : The staff complement of the parole unit is 88, as against 79 in December 1988.
45. Mr. Barron : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average delay beyond parole eligibility date in each of the four prison department regions.
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